Wireless Tether Blocked In The Market?

We have, in the past, seen several tactics by carriers to block devices from doing certain things that are outside of their interest. However, this one seems to take the cake. XDA member Darnell_Chat_TN pointed us to an article that appeared in PocketNow where the online blog talks about an app that many of you are familiar with, Wireless Tether. As you all know, tethering from our devices is something that comes as a second nature. We have been doing this for years, since the days of Windows Mobile. As it turns out, the carriers figured that they wanted to have all the cake and eat it as well since they started blocking the app in the free app available in the Market. This was proven by the folk at PN by trying to access the Market via Wifi (no SIM in a device) and with a SIM in it. The first time around, they found the app without a problem, but once the SIM card was in, the app had vanished.

Telecoms have been trying to get more money out of the data packages that they offer by charging for the bundled app and the service in the phones they sell. By blocking this app from public view, it seems that they are tired of competing against the free option. And since they cannot eliminate it, the best next option is to hide it. By the way, it is not just one carrier doing this, most of them seem to be jumping on the same wagon at this point.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you agree on the carrier’s tactics? Please leave some feedback.

egzthunder1

egzthunder1 is an editor on XDA-Developers,
the largest community for Android users. I have been an active member of xda-developers since 2005 and have gone through various roles in my time here. I am Former Portal Administrator, and currently part of the administrator team while maintaining my writer status for the portal. In real life, I am a Chemical Engineer turned Realtor in the Miami area.
View egzthunder1's posts and articles here.

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